2013: Two observations with my 16-inch in Geigersau

A frosty night at Geigersau Fr/Sa, March 15/16, 2013

18:09 CET: Before sunset

20:48 CET: Winter sky in moonlight

A cold wind swept repeatedly over an already frosty, exposed Geigersau site (930m) close to the Alps. But conditions were dry with a good
seeing. We missed comet PAN-starrs due to an initially cloudy western horizon. Observing of spring galaxies, among them NGC 5339 with
a supernova. For about half an hour we were joined by Leonhard, a local peasant, who was eagerly observing some highlights.

21:22 CET: Ralph and Leonhard at my 16-inch

Ben and Leonhard

23:11 CET: The Winter hexagon setting in the West

Big and small dipper

Nominally the temperature was "only" about -10 °C, but the cold wind made it appear much frostier. Therefore we went into our sleeping bags
around 0:30, despite a sky remaining totally clear.


Morning after


A clear night at Geigersau, Tue/Wed, Mai 14/15, 2013

A trip alone with my 16".

Evening before the Alps

23:39 CEST: Rise of the summer triangle

Initially with moon, observing till about 3:30: Many galaxies of the spring sky, among them also the less known, but bright objects NGC 3521
and NGC 4725. Among the fainter objects I observed the Coma Galaxy Cluster and the interacting galaxies NGC 4676 A/B ("The Mice").
The Mira variable Chi Cygni was near maxium, this time very bright with about V = 3.8, noticeably a bit brighter than nearby Eta Cygni.

2:52 CEST: The center of the Milky Way near the meridian

Chi Cygni near maximum


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